Teen hospitalised with head injuries after being beaten by gang with bat

A teenager is recovering in hospital after he was attacked by a gang of men with a bat in Co Tyrone.

James Gormley was left with serious head injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

The 18-year-old was targeted as he walked along the Hospital Road area of Omagh in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The victim was close to Tyrone County Hospital when a number of men got out of a black coloured car and assaulted him with a club or bat.

An 18-year-old male was arrested a short time later on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent, and was in custody assisting police with their enquiries. However, police released a statement and said he has been released unconditionally.

Ulster Unionist MLA for the area, Ross Hussey, condemned the attack, describing it as "pure thuggery".

He said: "Nothing can justify an attack of this nature on anyone. This is pure thuggery and anyone who knows anything about the thugs who committed this attack must, if they have any conscience at all, contact the police on 101. If they get away with it once they may try it again.

"My thoughts are with the injured victim and his family and I hope he makes a full recovery."

PSNI detective inspector Brian Foster is appealing for anyone who was in the Hospital Road area of Omagh at the time, and who witnessed the assault or a black coloured car or anyone with any information that can assist with the investigation to contact detectives in Omagh Police Station on 101.

A spokesman for the Western Health Trust said the teenager was in a stable condition.

Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.